The 49ers are where the Raiders were three years ago – drastically undermanned, in the midst of unrelenting losing, and with Fort Knox-like money under the salary cap. Obviously, the 10-2 Raiders have made the right moves in hiring coach Jack Del Rio, drafting players like Derek Carr and Amari Cooper, and acquiring players like …

Glendale, Ariz. —
Frank Gore said he wasn’t injured.
And 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh also said his running back wasn’t hurting.
The obvious question: Why did Gore have only 10 carries in San Francisco’s 21-19 loss to the Cardinals on Sunday?
The 1… …

Glendale, Ariz. —
The 49ers finally and predictably underachieved. They were overdue for a game like Sunday’s 21-19 loss to the Cardinals, an inferior team that took a merciless beating during its visit to San Francisco three weeks ago.
The 49ers pl… …

GLENDALE, Ariz. — For starters, 49ers holder Andy Lee rolled to his right and lobbed a perfect down-the-field pass.
Then, Jonathan Goodwin, a 318-pounder who’s usually a center, made a graceful over-the-shoulder catch near the right sideline.
Did that… …

Offense
The final six second-half possessions featured one first down, four three-and-outs, five punts and, finally, a surrender of the ball on downs when Alex Smith’s fourth-down pass to Kendall Hunter fell incomplete. Not good. Before the second-ha… …

Last year, when he played with the Browns, Blake Costanzo furnished his apartment with a futon mattress, a television and … nothing else.
This season, the 49ers’ special team standout has splurged. He’s rented a recliner for the place he shares with … …

Jim Harbaugh is a good bet to be named NFL Coach of the Year, but he’s also a shoo-in for an even more important (although mythical) award – Cheerleader of the Year.
Harbaugh wrapped up the latter award last week with his impassioned plea for a Frank G… …

(12-09) 22:04 PST —
Over the past six games, the 49ers have faced just two upper-echelon quarterbacks, Eli Manning and Joe Flacco.
Mostly they have faced the likes of Colt McCoy, John Beck, John Skelton and A.J. Feeley, a group that collectively ha… …

(12-09) 23:12 PST — Patrick Willis missed practice again Friday, and although the 49ers listed him as questionable, it’s highly unlikely that he’ll play against the Cardinals on Sunday in the desert because of his sore hamstring.
Willis has not pract… …

This isn’t about money, this is about the Great Wheel of Life.
Let’s say you’re a die-hard 49ers fan. Over the years you have supported your team – bought tickets when you could, bought jerseys, swilled the beer that sponsors the telecasts.
Oops, you p… …

The 49ers have signed Alex Boone to a four-year contract extension, keeping the 24-year-old backup offensive tackle in San Francisco through the 2015 season.
Boone, who has lost about 40 pounds since he signed with the Niners as an undrafted free agent… …